NLCS Game Five: Dodgers @ Phillies

Much like their SoCal counterparts, the Dodgers are down 3-1 in the League Championship Series and have their backs to the wall. I know some fans enjoy seeing Joe Torre and his club thisclose to elimination for whatever reason, but if the Yanks do move on to the World Series, it would be in their best interests for the Dodgers to mount a comeback and push the Phightin’s to seven tough games.

Philly will send last year’s ace and new father Cole Hamels to the mound for the second time in the series tonight. He allowed nine baserunners – including a pair of homers – and four runs in five and a third innings pitch, although his team walked away with a win. The Dodgers will counter with former Phillie Vicente Padilla, who was excellent in Game Two.

Chip Caray will fist the call on TBS; first pitch is scheduled for 8:07pm ET.

If non-Yankee baseball isn’t your thing, you could always check out the Islanders taking on the Hurricanes at home. But it’s the Isles, no one cares about them. Feel free to talk about whatever you want, just be sure to follow the guidelines and be nice to each other.

Rule #1 of the mistress is NEVER, EVER PICK THE UGLY GIRL. Pretty mistresses are always the smart move, because when you break up with her to go back to/stay with your wife, she won’t go all stalkerish and refuse to let you go and do something dumb/career-ruining/homicidal.

Pretty girls can deal with rejection because they know they’ll find someone else.

SmittDogg

So true. This was her one shot at a happy life born with a face/body like that. The silver fox setting her adrift ruined that one glimmer of hope of being able to marry/glom off of a man:

a) who owns a home
b) under 300 lbs
c) has no convictions (that we know of)
d) is respected at work (and virtually nowhere outside of work)

Salty Buggah

Hmmm, I think you also added that you’ve said too much.

(Why do I remember that but forget everything for tests and stuff to do?)

Apparently it took Forrest Whitaker months after filming to shake the accent.

Movie wasn’t great, but he was fucking terrifying in that role.

http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

Oh come on. Idi Amin was a much better brutal dictator than Pol Pot. Idi was always good for a laugh, like when he declared himself ‘Conqueror of the British Empire’ after Great Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Uganda. That’s some first rate comedy right there.

Pol Pot was a paranoid Communist, which is about as much fun as reading the Federal Tax code.

I saw hockey lowlights highlights on ESPN the other day, and I was all, “They made that mildly enjoyable NES videogame “Blades of Steel” into a real, live-action game played by real men? How do you like that shit? This is just like when they turned “NBA Jam” into SlamBall.”

I bet MLB would love to see a Dodgers-Yankees WS. Not only are we talking about the two main markets, but there’s also the drama filled scenario of Joe Torre-—bringing along Donnie Baseball, for good measure—-facing his old team, now managed by his protégée and namesake Joe Girardi; and Manny returning to face his Bronx archrivals, which he has frequently punished in the past. Man…

Andy in Sunny Daytona

Donnie Baseball is coincidenced into never participating in a World Series.

Don’t condone cheating either but I always tell my married friends who like to stray, “If she’s not hotter than your wife, why bother?”

I’m a broke nobody and the ugliest chick I’ve been with is Heidi Klum compared to Phillips’ paramour. So, how is it that so many dudes w/money, looks and fame choose to cheat w/such unattractive women? Ugh.

I’m a broke nobody and the ugliest chick I’ve been with is Heidi Klum compared to Phillips’ paramour. So, how is it that so many dudes w/money, looks and fame choose to cheat w/such unattractive women?

It goes without saying, but I’d hit that. I doubt I’d even need to bring my van and the “Free Candy!” bumper stickers.

JMK aka The Overshare

Also, as someone who had an ex become a lesbian (I’ve long decided to not speculate how/we that happened; I simply have too many flaws), I can tell you that Phillips should be commended for convincing a lesbian to get with him.

http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

So I picked up the Best American Sportswriting 2009 because Todd Drew’s got a piece in it, but then I ended up reading a Michael Lewis piece about Cuban baseball, and the entire thing is kind of crazy.

It also makes me want to move to Canada, gain Canadian citizenship, and then work in in Cuba as a covert scout.

Are you sure that’s not HER jersey? She was one of the last cuts in August.

http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

*golf clap*

Salty Buggah

Could be. Cutler did get traded way before that. And the Broncos needed a lot of LBs, D-linemen, and Casey Weigmann wanted a better contract or he said he would retire.

http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com Evan

I really need to stop going to bed at 5 am. It’s doing me no favors at all.

http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

Tell me about it. Had a headache all day.

http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com Evan

Sorry to hear. I hope it gets better soon.

What happened with me was that I had an appointment at the Career Center at my alma mater to check over my resume. I made corrections to it, left it in the counselor’s box and made an appointment for next week to discuss it. Turns out I was supposed to come in today. Now I’m just kicking myself. I am already hurting myself with this fouled up sleep schedule to the point that I don’t leave myself enough time to go out to search for work and do other chores. It also didn’t help that I was a pansy and forewent career advice until recently.

http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

I want to say something here, but I probably shouldn’t. Yeah, I definitely shouldn’t.

http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

“Quit your job as a male gigolo?”

http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com Rebecca-Optimist Prime

Close, but not really.

Accent Shallow

I worked the night shift for ~6 months. It gets to the point where all you can think of is sleep.

Ivan

Well as the baseball year winds down, the NBA season will begin, and my lovable Knicks will begin their quest for a playoff spot and you know what, they will make the playoffs. By the way Danilo Gallinari is gonna shut down some doubters this coming season (Yes im talking to you Tommie) if he’s healthy.

I’d sell that shit if it was against the Yankees but no way I’ll throw it back.

Evil Empire

Attaboy, Andre.

Not that I really care who wins the quest for 3rd place, but I would like to see the Dodgers win this game simply so that there is more baseball to watch between the world series and Yankees clinching tomorrow.

http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

About the only thing to root for is for the Dodgers to somehow make this thing go 7, so the Phillies would have to use Lee.

Accent Shallow

Agreed. No reason for this series to reach a speedy conclusion.

Evil Empire

True, that would indeed be a tangible benefit … plus a game 7 would just be really fun to watch. But I honestly don’t care who wins, neither opponent looks like they will be as challenging as the Angels.

Salty Buggah

Anyone see those Jorge Posada McDonalds ads on some sites? I think he just looks funny in those.

The the hell is it with DirecTV and dead actors? First the little girl from Poltergeist and now Chris Farley. What’s next, one of the kids in Moonwalker breaking the 4th wall to talk about DirecTV while Michael Jackson is dancing?

That doesn’t sound right…. maybe Manny hooked him up with some “GNC supplements”

Not to kvetch, but I am so tired… the last two days I’ve been working on slides being shown to THE big cheese – not that I’m showing it to him, of course. This other director comes over at 6:30 and bends my ear for 45 mins about the change in option valuation methodology, then walks away saying “hey you should implement this”

So I’ve got an hour of work ahead – or 2 if I keep watching the game. Heh

vin

I guess that explains why everyone hates getting hit by him.

Andy in Sunny Daytona

That lady was excited.

Accent Shallow

Preliminary results are in: this series is not going 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm61weFrK4c JobaWockeeZ

Funny, for a second there I thought Chip had emotion.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Ibanez Matsui’d that one.

http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com Evan

“Tries to pull an outside pitch.”

/Kay’d

Accent Shallow

Bandbox!

Disgraceful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm61weFrK4c JobaWockeeZ

Bandbox!

http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/ The Artist

I hope Pedro gets a start in the WS. That would be very cool to face him, given all the history.

You know who really wasn’t playing the right way last night? CC. When up 5-1, he should’ve let two more runs score because he could. He should’ve pitched to the score like true aces do. What a failure.

I’ll take CC over Lee in Game 1 in a good pitchers duel ending in Yankee victory. After that, we can demolish whatever sacrificial lambs they throw out there for Games 2-4.

Ivan

Even Hamels? I understand he struggled through out the season but he’s still dangerous.

Rey22

My initial thought would be to agree with you, but he just has not looked sharp at all this postseason. Against the Rockies and Dodgers. Now replace that with the Yankees and it looks a bit grim for him.

They have Cliff Lee, sure, but I don’t know if Hamels will be effective and then it’s either Happ or Pedro.

Their offense is great sure but no better than the Yanks.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Their offense is impressive, though. They’re basically an A.L. team in terms of offense. I fully expect them to DH Ibanez in games 1/2 and put Francisco in LF if that’s what it comes to. That would give them good OF defense and a stronger than usual lineup.

He said the most common reply was “neither”, but I actually think both of them – by the end of their careers – will have put up good enough numbers to get into the HoF. Neither is likely to hit any 1 single automatic HoF plateau (though Damon has a very possible shot at 3000 hits), but both have put up very well-rounded offensive numbers by the end of their career, and it will be interesting to see what “clubs” they join when they retire. By clubs, I mean stuff like the 2500 H / 300 HR / 550 2B / 375 SB / 1500 RBI / 1500 R / 1500 BB club … because those are the numbers Abreu is likely to hit. I don’t know where to look up what other baseball players have met all of those criteria but I know that’s pretty damn balanced career. Johnny Damon will have similarly well balanced numbers, though more hits and less RBIs.

What does RAB think?

Accent Shallow

I think Abreu will be wildly underrated at the end of his career, because the media will continue to not acknowledge how impressive a lifetime .404 OBP is.

Evil Empire

One would hope that by the time these guys are up for vote in 9 or more years, OBP and OPS will have grown in appreciation as the older baseball writers fade away and the younger, more stat-savvy voters become a larger influence in teh voting.

JMK aka The Overshare

Underrated, sure. But Hall of Fame? Ehhhh.

Accent Shallow

He’s been a much better player than Damon, although Damon’s been the better defender.

I think Damon’s a lock if he gets to 3000 hits (although he’d be arguably the worst player with that many), and Abreu’s probably on the outside looking in — no huge counting numbers, although the HR/SB thing he has going may help.

Evil Empire

That’s why I think its the combination of various counting stats that really demonstrates how elite these guys’ careers have been … and that’s the other thing – Johnny and Bobby haven’t ever really had insane years, they’re just incredibly consistent and have stayed healthy for a really long time, and both will probably play the game at an above average level for another 2 or 3 years and then … probably painfully fall off a cliff.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

I agree with this. By this time, I thought that the MSM would at least be trying to catch up with the times, but they seem to be resisting it tooth and nail.

JMK aka The Overshare

Maybe this is a strange way of evaluating players (by which I mean incorrect), but I’ve never seen either as dominating players, and if I were given a vote, that would be the qualifier. Let me elaborate: The numbers suggest both have been very good players, but I just don’t see either as HoFers. They’re guys that are good at pretty much everything, but aren’t really great enough at anything of note. They’re just extremely well-rounded. If I were forced to make a judgment I’d say Damon because he primarily played CF (and not a bad one, either), and Abreu played a corner OF spot his entire career (and not well for a fair amount of it).

My $.02

Accent Shallow

I thought Ethier was supposed to be a good defender? He certainly hasn’t looked it.

Wiki: “Since 1980, Valentine has owned and operated Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Cafe, a sports bar located in his hometown of Stamford. He claims to have invented the Wrap sandwich. He claims that his restaurant was the first anywhere to serve a sandwich in a tortilla wrap. Valentine made this claim while his restaurant was showcased on the Food Network.”

Remember when Steve Philips said in 2006 that the Yankees have to trade ARod and he will never succeed in NY (despite the one MVP he already won there)?

Accent Shallow

Apparently when Bobby V was informed he was being fired:

“You’re firing me and keeping him?”

Steve H

Clearly Philips enjoys downgrading.

Steve H

Clearly Steve Philips is a fan of downgrading.

ansky

I remeber when Steve Phillips said that the Yanks should trade Cano and Wang after their first seasons because they werent going to get any better. OK Steve I’m really going to trust your talent evaluation.

Accent Shallow

Troncoso doesn’t exactly look like a shutdown reliever.

And talk about short-arming the ball!

Reggie C.

Phillies can blow this game open. Bases loaded for Victorino.

I didn’t think the Dodgers would go out like punks.

JMK aka The Overshare

Phantom strike 2.

JMK aka The Overshare

Torre’s been asleep at the wheel for how long now?

Accent Shallow

The Phillies are an incredibly unlikeable team.

And what the hell are the fans chanting? Sounds like “U-S-A, U-S-A”, but that can’t be it.

http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com Evan

They’re saying, “Beat L.A.”

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

“Beat L.A.”

Steve H

I hate when beat L.A. is chanted when a team is playing L.A. The original Beat L.A. was Celtics fans, about to lose to the Sixers in the conference finals, chanting Beat L.A. to the Sixers in the Boston Garden.

Tom Zig

The crowd at Fenway was apparently chanting “beat the Yankees” to the Angels, after the Sox got swept

Randy A.

Im curious to hear other peoples opinions about this. Why do you think they’re an unlikeable team? Because I agree with you 100% about that.

JMK aka The Overshare

I don’t think they’re unlikable, so I’m curious to hear what others think. Then again, I truly cannot stand the city of Philadelphia and they supposedly have some of the worst fans in all of sports (whatever that means, I’m not sure of the criteria used).

I think the Angels are less likable, actually.

Steve H

Yeah, at least the Philly fans don’t need thundersticks.

Dela G

damn, the O-dog crushed that shit

http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com Evan

He also jetted around the bases.

JMK aka The Overshare

Unlike Furcal, who took about 3 minutes to get to second on his double.

scooter

Buck is funny – “this is how much respect Charlie Manual has for the Dodgers”

I think it’s more “this is how much he’s worried about how Hamels is getting crushed”

I’m sure the Phillies want Happ to get through the 7th

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

So this game is getting interesting.

Dela G

hey there you are mike!

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

I was watching Transformers 2, did I miss anything good? I don’t have the energy to read through the entire thread.

haha nah you didn’t miss anything, its just that i hadn’t seen you then entire thread

Ivan

How is the movie?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Meh. Lots of action and stuff, but that’s it. I liked the first one better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm61weFrK4c JobaWockeeZ

Agreed. It was a decent action movie with of course the goddess Megan Fox but the first one was better.

JMK aka The Overshare

Transformers 2? Really? The premise is slightly less believable than a My Little Pony movie.

Okay, so we ripped on Steve Phillips’ escapades, discussed how irrelevant hockey is, discussed William S. and a new play, Bobby Valentine’s restaurant, how poor Andre Ethier is at D, the HoF chances of Damon and Abreu, and more Steve Phillips…

The minuses
– snarky to excess
– will club you to death with his opinion
– will post items to stir up crap and arouse trolls and bozos, then proceeds to lament about same trolls and bozos among the fan base

JMK aka The Overshare

True. He does provide good info. Terrible “analyst,” though.

Sam P.

No kidding. He’s gotta pander to his Boston folks though, so I’m thinking we’re going to have some awesome things to talk about as the next few seasons go by.

Or, possibly he’ll explode when the Yankees pull out a WS victory. One can dream …

He’s just trying to cater to his audience of 10 people on the internets … all of them LoHudders who followed him before he moved on.

http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel

He’s hated Girardi all along. Not a surprise. He has gotten really annoying.

Evil Empire

Has he? I never really detected any disdain towards Girardi, he’s given him his due props when he was at LoHud. Pete really is becoming a tool though. I actually have always have thought that Pete is great during the regular season covering the day to day, but during the off season there’s too much empty space to fill where he can insert his ego into his reporting.

http://theyankeeuniverse.com Moshe Mandel

He ripped Joe regularly last year, and took his struggles with the media personally. He accused him of lying many times, and blew things totally out of proportion.

Evil Empire

Oh yeah…you are correct sir. In 2008 he really slammed him. He also overreacted like a bitch when Cashman signed Teixeira because Cashman said some shit like “We’re NOT getting 3 high profile free-agents”, and Pete preached that shit to LoHud nonstop, asking them to stop pining for Tex. PeteAbe felt Cashman made him look dumb cause he took a GM’s word during the hot stove.

http://and-that-happened.blogspot.com Evan

Well, the 3-2 curve was in the strike zone, Buck, but Hallion called it otherwise.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Does Kershaw have a Kaballah bracelet on?!

JMK aka The Overshare

It’s actually Madonna’s exoskeleton.

Ivan

Kershaw or Hughes?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Kershaw, for sure.

Evil Empire

Its not even close.

Ivan

Really? I still go with Hughes. Has the higher floor, and while Kershaw has the better stuff, Hughes isn’t no slouch.

Evil Empire

Left handed. Couple years younger. Already succeeding as a starter for over a year.

Ivan

Understanable, still think Hughes control is better and has better of reaching his potential than Kershaw. Plus, not to take anything away from Kershaw but the NL west kinda sucks at least from the offensive side of the ball.

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Kershaw’s two years younger and is already a rotation mainstay for the Dodgers. I’d take Kershaw easily.

Ivan

I still go Hughes, however I might take Kershaw over Joba.

JMK aka The Overshare

You might? Kershaw in a landslide. Over Hughes, too.

Evil Empire

Is not that that Hughes and Joba don’t have awesome potential, its just that Kershaw is much more of a proven commodity and succeeding at such a young age … and he’s a fucking lefty. That dude might be a special one.

JMK aka The Overshare

Agree 100%.

Accent Shallow

Hughes.

Oh, you were talking about pitching ability, not “which pitcher looks less like a chimpanzee”?

JMK aka The Overshare

Ha!

JMK aka The Overshare

Dodgers fail again.

Ivan

Dodgers fail at everything.

Accent Shallow

Think Torre misses Cano and Jeter after that?

http://bronxbaseballdaily.com Matt ACTY/BBD

Who wins in a four way death match:

John McLane
Martin Riggs
Indiana Jones
James Bond

Sam

McLane

Evil Empire

Riggs

Evil Empire

Riggs is the fucking crazy one in that group. He was born for a four way death match.

Yes Phillies, enjoy this ass kicking your giving the Dodgers, because when the WS begins, that will all end.

Mike bk

the philly lineup is just as dangerous as ours, especially with some of our guys struggling as they are. the advantage we have is the pen and andy vs whomever they start game 3. i assume we go with 3 starters even though it would mean everyone has to go on short rest. philly would do that with lee and maybe hamels but they cant with their other guys so they might not do it all.

Evil Empire

I’d say the Philly lineup is about equal to the Yanks when we play at their stadium, but whoever fills their DH role will not be able to equal Matsui (he’s also the best PH on either team for whatever that is worth)

I’ll take Sabathia over Lee any day of the week. Burnett has also had a superior regular and post season compared to Hamels and seems to be on one of his “Good AJ” streaks, so I’d favor us in that matchup too.

Paul

Well, we’re seeing the next Yankee RF (free in 2010). Got the O’Neill thing too and he loves the post-season.

So sign Damon and throw a boatload of money at Werth. The only problem is he’ll be 32. But he’s a good fielder, got some speed (20 SB), and doesn’t have a lot of mileage.

Mike bk

better and more complete due to his D and speed than Bay or Holliday certainly. crawford might fit a bigger need for speed and top of the order hitter, but then again could make swish a DH and sign both. lol.

Joe D.

To hell with Werth. He’ll require a multi-year deal, and since he’ll already be 32 as you say, not worth it.

I’d like to try and swindle Josh Willingham or Elijah Dukes from the Nats. They seem to undervalue both.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Willingham is terrible in the outfield, and Dukes is just a nutcase. I wouldn’t touch that kid if he was free.

Mike bk

i dont see willingham field enough but his D is rated higher than damon by fangraphs…is that wrong?

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

No, it’s just that Damon is awful, and Willingham is slightly less awful.

Mike bk

well less awful is by comparison an “improvement” not to mention we could get a rh bat added to the lineup.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Yeah, but Yankee Stadium is death to righties not named A-Rod.

Mike bk

well he was saying a year from now, not now.

people for this year would be more like a willingham trade, marlon bryd if it could be only like 2 years or hawpe who can hit but is an awful fielder.

Evil Empire

Marlon Byrd for 2 years … would be ok I guess. He’s really not that great. I’m pretty dead set on thinking Carl Crawford is the best long term solution to LF, either by trade for 2010 or by FA in 2011.

JMK aka The Overshare

I always think Marlon Byrd is in his 70s. I don’t know why.

JMK aka The Overshare

If Dukes isn’t in prison by then.

Evil Empire

Werth is a FA in 2011 and we already have a right fielder, have you met Nick Swisher?

Honestly I didn’t even look at the Phillies playoff numbers. If the Yankees were facing Dodgers pitching they’d have great numbers, but thats not my point. Going by regular season stats the Yankees win 5 positions and the Phillies 4 ( If you count DH which isn’t totally fair.) With all the days off and stuff there is no reason to think that players’ “hotness” will remain the same.

Evil Empire

Umm…its probably because its a lot easier to tell how good someone is from a 162 game sample than a sample of less than 10 games.

Don’t act so worried, chief … Yankees will kick the shit out of the Phillies and we’ll all be celebrating #27 together in no time.

JMK aka The Overshare

That was some sweater…

dkidd

cosby-esque

Ivan

Phillies are hitting some bullets out there.

ansky

And in case there was any doubt…there’s your ballgame right there.

Ivan

Tired Darling? Gee why is that?

ansky

These FLOMAX commercials are hilarious.

GoTerpsGo

So looking forward to NYY stomping LAA tomorrow night… Are the AAAA playoffs over yet? *Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………..*

JMK aka The Overshare

I’m still not convinced that Brad Lidge is “fixed.”

ansky

I think Manny just went to the showers

mustang

I feel soooo sad for Manny and Joe T.

Oh well next year !!!

GoTerpsGo

I don’t. I just wanted to see this go 7 games and then the 7th game would go for 18+ innings and then the winner would be exhausted playing NYY. But alas it’s not to be.

mustang

Does it real matter.

GoTerpsGo

No it won’t – NYY in 4. :D
(Doubt it but NYY will still win it.)

Evil Empire

The Phillies will just have to lose with their best foot forward and no ridiculous excuses. Oh well.

mustang

What do you mean we all know the Yanks have the WS umpires in their pockets already.